Urban Gardening For Dummies

by Paul Simon, Charlie Nardozzi, The National Gardening Association

The easy way to succeed at urban gardening A townhouse yard, a balcony, a fire escape, a south-facing window--even a basement apartment can all be suitable locations to grow enough food to save a considerable amount of money and enjoy the freshest, healthiest produce possible.

"Urban Gardening For Dummies" helps you make the most of limited space through the use of proven small-space gardening techniques that allow gardeners to maximize yield while minimizing space. Covers square-foot gardening and vertical and layered gardening Includes guidance on working with container gardening, succession gardening, and companion gardening Offers guidance on pest management, irrigation and rain barrels, and small-space composting

If you're interested in starting an urban garden that makes maximum use of minimal space, "Urban Gardening For Dummies" has you covered.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2013

About the author

Landscape architect, Project Manager & Gardener

Reviews

[Serrafun güler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bahçecilik adına yazılmış çok daha başarılı kitaplar okumasaydım bu kitaba biraz daha fazla puan verebilirdim . Bazı konular başlanıp biraz askıda kalmış gibi . Çok güzel bir çok bilgi var ama ‘ ufak çaplı bahçecilik ‘ yapmak isteyen biri için yeterli değil . Yinede bahçe kitaplığında olmalı .

[David Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I read to research this post was Urban Gardening For Dummies which is a very good book which I bought from kindle. This book looks at the subject from an American perspective and there are plenty of examples about how cities in that country are embracing urban gardening. Seattle for example has a park devoted to growing vegetables and fruit and allows citizens to help themselves to the produce free of charge in a move to try and alleviate poverty. Some people have tried growing produce on their roofs. Obviously the added soil is good for insulation. In many big cities land is being put aside that locals can rent and use to grow produce. Many people are into container gardening and if they are on a patio prop the pots on bricks or wood or similiar to allow a small amount of space for the water to drain. Shrubs and trees especially in sandy soils require 1-3 inches of water around them to allow the roots to grow deep. The roots being deep helps if there is a drought. A square yard requires 5 gallons of water to equal 1 inch deep of water. The best soil is loam which combines the draining ability of sand, the ability to hold nutrients of clay and humus to stick the soil together. A lot of people get their soil tested especially in cities where there may be pollutants in the soil. If it needs more magnesium and calcium use dolmitic limestone and if it needs more calcium only use calcic limestone. A great fertilizer which plants love but which has a terrible smell is fishmeal. It's made from leftovers from processing fish. Another good idea is using earthworms to break down plant waste and food into a fertilizer which doesn't have the bad smell of fishmeal.

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice introductory book to urban gardening. After reading it, I feel confident enough to start gathering the things I'll need to start some seedlings later this winter and prepare to plant my first garden next spring.

[Eric Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An extensive overview of gardening in a urban setting, written in a easily accessible and friendly tone similar to other "For Dummies" titles. The book works at two goals: to provide a primer for flower and vegetable gardening, and to provide a primer for urban gardening. Sections and chapters interweave between these two goals, which reading through can provide some necessary variety but may lead one to want to skip sections as well. As a beginner book the authors are prescriptive at times, such as stressing raised garden beds and organic methods. However space is given describing other options. The book also is also heavily cross referenced, a great asset although with the Kindle edition may result in accidentally tapping to another chapter. A good reference for this topic.

[tfadius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gardening is such a huge topic that is seems near impossible to be able to hit every topic and keep all the readers happy. I am a new gardener who's in that stage where I know some things, but have huge gaps in my knowledge base. I learned a bunch of interesting things, from the book, but wanted to know more. I found that after the small amount of information about planting in the beginning was written the book pivoted more to how to set up a space. I see the need for that aspect since this is a book about urban gardening, but I wish there was more planting and care information.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad in terms of giving you specific advice on gardening in small and urban gardening. Not so great at just getting you started. There was no basic "how-to" for beginners. Some of the information was way overboard, particularly when we're talking about small spaces, such as how to construct a moon door to your garden. The most helpful chapters are on watering and on the specific considerations of an urban garden.

[Bora Donmez · Rating 3 out of 5]

bahçesi olanın bileceği şeyler yazılmış. biraz daha detay bilgiler beklerdim açıkcası.